Figure oracle



Feb. 14, 1928.

E. P. CARREL FIGURE ORACLE Filed Aug. l8. 1926 A 'ITORNE V Patented Feb. 14, 1928'.

* UNITED STATE nLEAnonA Pnnsco'r'r; oAnnE or ELIZABETH, NEwbrnnsnY;

1 FIGURE 'onaonn Application filed August 18,1926, Serial No. 129,995

This invention relates to figure oracles Y and has particular reference to such a device which'may be used, for, example, to give aflirmative or negative responses to inquiries in an arbitrary manner.

An important object to provide a figure oracle having a movable member which, after movement, comes to rest in either one of two definite positions as dictated by chance. i

Another object is to provide sucha device which will be simple in constructiomof neat appearance, and which will furnish/amusement for children and adults. I I

Another object is to provide such a device in the formof a human figure with a movable head,vv the head having a pair of readily distinguishable faces on its opposite sides,

and the character of theoraclessresponse being determinedby the position in which the. head comes .to' rest afterbeing moved. v Other objects andadvantages willibe read-' ily apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein, a preferred ,em-

bodiment of the inventionis shownby way of illustration, and wherein Figure 1 is a front'el vation of "ad figure oracle with the 'head-inember supported in a, position of rest Figure 2 is a side elevation of thesame;

Figure 3 is afragmentary top plan v ew of: the body portion,with the head member shown in section; i

into the body portion; p I I a Figure as a fragmentary view similar to Figure Zbut showing the second face foremosty f I 5 r Figure 6 is a fragmentariy'vertical long!- tudinal sectional view through thebody portion; and

Figure verse view therethrough, Referring now to the it will be seen that the invention contem- 7 plates the p rovision of a relativelystationarysupport or body 10.and a movable :dou-

ble-faced member 11 normally mounted thereon, said double-faced member 11 being disengageable from the support lOand rotatable while disengaged. The opposite faces of the member 11 are readily distinguishable from. one another to express dif- 7 is a fragmentary verticalr'transerent meanings, and either one of said faces! may bedefinitely positioned when the mem ber 11 is restored to engagement with v the support- 10.x I

In the. specific embodiment shown by way a 1 of illustration, the stationary support 10, of the invention is on, I

in the form: of a human figure which may beinakneeling posture or otherwise as des red; Said figure may be surtablylformeu as by modelling, molding, carving, orfabricating with any desiredmateriah'and may preferably beprovided with simulations of j human figure may be disposed upon a base or pedestal 12 in order that thecomplete device may firmly rest upon a table,

shelf, or the like, and said pedestal havlng surfaces which ,may be inscribed with; leglends desirable inthe commercial exploitation of the invention. e

- The body portionlOmay preferably have a-hollow interior 13 and provided at its upper end with an open neck portion 14,,the

opening in which is; slightly larger than the double-faced?member 11. Extending downwardly inthe-neck portion 14 and into thehollow interior 13' are a pair'ofjopposite'ly disposed grooves 15, and. 16 ;Which constitute guidingv means as will hereafter beeiiplained, anddisposed at opposite sides .the*member 11'. f e I p o V. c 7 IThedouble-facedmemb'er 11 mayprefer- F igurel'is a view'illustrating the usepf the device with the;hea d member lowered ably zbenin the form of a human head when viewed fromth'e front, and havlng on one 1 side arm 19 in whichithe features'are of a pleasing appearance, suchas' embodyinga by scowlingfeatures; A depending portion 21 may extend downwardly inthe open-neck portion: 14 and-may be'provided with later ally projectingpins 22 adaptedito register p withsthe grooves and 16, or to rest in drawmgs n detail, 7'

the supporting seats 17 or 18 as desired.

When resting in said supporting seats 17 or 18, the pins 22 are in effect trunnions by which theahead m'emben'isrOckabIy supported in its normaluposition; i In orderthat said dress .such'asfa kimona or the like. The

head member 11 mayoscil'late on thetrun-- nions a counterbalance weight. 23 maybe carried by the depending portion21,,sucb

oscillation rendering the device thereinteresting, and being illustrated by dotted lines inFigure 2'. 1 so and in some instances amusing the invention is not restricted.

The figure oracle above described will provide amusement and at the same time be ornamental. to the home or other environment in which it is used. Frequently people have questions which they must decide and which they find impossible to decide in their own minds. Following a sporting instinct they then flip a coin and settletheir doubts in accordance with the chance showing of the coin. The present invention may be used for the same'purpose, it giving affirmative or negative responses in an arbitrary manner. Or itmay be used by a group of people such as in house parties and the like, the people asking questions by way of entertainment and receiving answers to the questlons as will be obvious.

In using the device, the extremity of the cue 24 is grasped between thumb and finger of a persons hand, and extended upwardly -to suspend the head member 11 and disengage the pins 22 from the supporting seats 22 into registration with the grooves 15 and 16, and then by proper movement of the hand the head 11 is passed downwardly through the open neck portion 14: to a position of free suspension within the hollow interior of the body 10, (see Fig. 4). The desired question is then asked and by manipulation of the fingers the cue 24 is twisted causing the head member 11 to spin freely within the body portion. Thereafter the suspended head and one are withdrawn upwardly, the pins 22 preferably being forced into registration before the head stops revolving. In this manner it is entirely a matter of chance as to which of the faces 19 or 20 is presented foremost when the head is withdrawn, and since said faces are readily distinguishable from each other, one of them can be held to signify Yes while the other signifies No. The foremost face thus gives the answer or response to the question asked, results may be obtained.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a new and novel device has been produced which will have utility for purposes of entertainment and which when properly embellished will be of ornamental appearance. Obviously changes may be resorted to in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, and the right is herein reserved to opposite faces differentiated from eachother to respectively represent afiirmative and negative responses means for lowering said double-faced member into the hollow body and remlving it therein, and means for guiding said double-faced member with either one of its faces foremost as it is withdrawn upwardly from within the hollow body. 1

2. A device of the class described comprising a hollow body in the form of a human figure with an open neck, a head member adapted to be supported thereby and to extend above said open neck, said head member having a pair of faces on its opposite sides and said faces being readily distinguishable from one another to express different meanings, means for lowering. the head member through said open neck to a position within thehollow body and for freely rotating the head therein'and means for guiding the head upwardly when withdrawn whereby either one ofthe faces will 'be foremost as chance directs after rotation. 17, 18. It is then moved to bring the pins 8 A device ofthe class described comprising a hollow body in the'form ofa human figure with an open neck, said neck having vertical guiding means, a head member adapted to besupported thereby and to extend above said open neck, saidrhead memher having a pair of faces on its opposite sides, and said faces being readily (llStl11 guishable from on'efanother to express dif ferent meanings, said head member having means for engaging said guiding means whereby to present either of the faces foremost, and means for lowering and raising the head member into and out of the hollow body and for freely rotating it when within the body, the guiding means being disengaged whenthe head member is lowered.

4. A device of the class described comprising a hollow body in the form of a human figure with an open neck, said neck hav ing vertical. guiding means, a head member adapted to be supported thereby and to e31- tend above said open neck,said head member having a pair of faces on its opposite sides and said faces being readily distinguishable from one another to express different meanings, said head member'having means for engaging said guiding means whereby to present either of the faces foremost, and a cue secured to the head member for lower ing and raising the head member into and out of the hollow body and for freely rotating it when within the body, the guiding means being disengaged when the head member is lowered. 5. A device of'the class described comprising a hollow body in the formof a human figure with an open neck portion having a pair of vertical grooves and head-supporting seats adjacent its upper end, ahead member movable into and out of said hollow body, said head member having a pair of faces on its opposte sides, and said faces being readily distinguishable from one another to ex-v press different meanings, pins extending laterally from the head member and adapted for registration 1n the vertical grooves or to rest upon the head-supporting seats, and a cue secured to the head member for lowering and raising the head member into and out of the hollow body and for freely rotatin it when within the body, said pins being be ow the confines of said vertical grooves when the head is lowered. g

6. A device of the class described comprising a. hollow body in the form ofahuman figure with an open neck portion, said neck portion having a pair of vertical grooves and head-supporting seats adjacent its upper end, i

a head member movable into and out of said hollow body, said head member having a air of faces on its opposite sides, and said aces being readily distinguishable from one another to express different meanings, pins extending laterally from the head member and adapted for registration in the vertical groovesor to rest upon the head-supporting seats, to rockably support the head member, a counterbalance Weight depending from the head member, and a cue secured to the head member for lowering and raising it into and out of the hollow body, and for freely rotating it when within the body.

7. A device of the class described comprising a support, a multi-faced member rockably supported thereon and having its separate faces readilydistinguishable from one another by different expressions, and means for disengaging the mult-i-faeed member from the support and for revolving it while disengaged.

ELEANORA PRESCOTT CARREL. 

